Abstract A beam splitting polarizer is positioned in a laser cavity consisting of a laser rod and two highly reflecting mirrors. The laser rod is continually pumped, producing thermally induced stress birefringence in the laser rod, which performs a polarization rotation which is used to couple energy via the polarizer from inside the laser cavity. The stress pattern in the laser rod can be changed by rotation of the plane containing the pumping lamp and laser rod axes while keeping the beam splitter polarizer stationary. Two cavity configurations are shown, one in which the HR mirrors are arranged in opposed facing relationship, and the other with the mirrors being arranged orthogonally with respect to each other, and the beam splitting polarizer which is utilized for obtaining the polarization component with the largest gain. The gain of each of these configurations can be controlled by the aforesaid rotation of the pump lamp and laser rod with respect to the beam splitting polarizer.
A laser for the generation of CW plane polarized radiation comprising: a. a crystalline laser rod, b. a beam splitting polarizer, c. a pair of highly reflective mirrors, d. said laser rod and said beam splitting polarizer being bounded by said mirrors and in optical alignment therewith forming a laser cavity therebetween, e. pumping means for continually pumping said laser rod causing thermally induced stress birefringence in said laser rod to perform a polarization rotation whereby polarized radiation is coupled from said cavity via said beam splitting polarizer, and f. means for rotating said laser rod and pumping means with respect to said beam splitting polarizer for controlling the output of polarized radiation from said beam splitting polarizer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A laser for the generation of CW plane polarized radiation comprising: a. a crystalline laser rod, b. a beam splitting polarizer, c. a pair of highly reflective mirrors, d. said laser rod and said beam splitting polarizer being bounded by said mirrors and in optical alignment therewith forming a laser cavity therebetween, e. pumping means for continually pumping said laser rod causing thermally induced stress birefringence in said laser rod to perform a polarization rotation whereby polarized radiation is coupled from said cavity via said beam splitting polarizer, and f. means for rotating said laser rod and pumping means with respect to said beam splitting polarizer for controlling the output of polarized radiation from said beam splitting polarizer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said beam splitting polarizer is a Glan Thompson prism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said laser cavity has a Q switch therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said Q switch is a Pockels cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said pair of highly reflective mirrors is substantially 100% reflecting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said mirrors are arranged in opposed facing relationship with the polarized radiation output coupled from said polarizer being the ordinary component of polarization.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said mirrors are arranged orthogonally with respect to each other and said beam splitting polarizer with the polarized radiation output coupled from said polarizer being the extraordinary component of polarization.